Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002
From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
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2/28/42
China Northwest: Big developments here (as reflected on map in preceding post). Cursor indicates Chinese stack of 30 units north of Lanchow. I know this includes at least two divisions. I've known for weeks that something on the order of two divisions was coming this way, so I've moved in enought roops to counter a threat of that size...but just how much more "oomph" is there? I have roughly 1800 AV in the sector with more on the way. Japan tried a para assault against the dot hex, but it failed. :) I'm using Chinese bombers to try to slow the Japanese advance. This is a worrisome sector, but how effectively can Japan fight this far from a supply source? And how effectively can China defend in the mountains? With interior lines and good defensive terrain I might have an opportunity to stymie Japan's offensive and nip at its long supply line.
China North: The Japanese are also advancing up the road towadrs Ankang. I have a decent army protecting that base and much more around Nanyang. I think I can threaten the rear of the Japanese column so that this vector won't prove promising for Japan. I think.
China Center: Both sides are stretched out on each side of the river between Hengyang and Kweilin. I don't want this railroad interdicted, Stopping such a move is fairly tough. My current thinking is that this is mainly a diversion, but I'm not positive. I wouldn't be shocked to find a bunch of those Luzon divsiions here sometime in the not-too-distant future. :)
China South: Three small IJ militia units are moving on Kunming. I think I have enough to counter the threat.
Burma: The Allies reclaimed Schewbo, thus opening the route out of Burma, in an important little assault. I may try to defend, or I may pull back slowly towards the fronteir between Burma and India.
Indian Ocean: An Aussie brigade lands at Cocos Island, which now has 225 AV and some engineers to start dealing with infrastructure. An American engineering unit is enroute from Capetown. Steve will now need a division, or at least a prolonged campaign, to take this island. With my carriers there, he can't have it unless he really commits...and if he really commits here that means he's not committed elsewhere. So this is an important little redoubt.
Oz: Quiet today.
North America: A USN picket DD found and got hammered by the KB, west of San Francisco. The DD may not make it back to port, but she did her job well. To my way of thinking, Prince Rupert is not a viable vector of attack for Japan, leaving only two options on the West Coast. Here's how I see things:
a) Prince Rupert: A major landing here might offer Japan a viable way of getting inland and into the interior of the USA, or at least to destroy some Canadian industry by occupation. However, such a move would pretty much require taking interior cities by para asault in order to utilize strategic transprot inland. Since that's no longer possible for Japan, any major invasion would be faced with big American infantry units in the mountain terrain on the very long march inland. It would take a huge commitment and a great deal of time. Such a commitment would have to be so huge that it would free up lots of Allied units to come north to counter the move. IMO, therefore, Prince Rupert is no go for Japan.
b) Strategic Bombing: This is still a viable way to score alot of strat bombing points for Japan. However, Japan cannot do this via LBA from its current bases - distances are too far and it's too easy to max defensive CAP over the available targets. Japan either has to use the KB on raids to the south to split CAP (as Steve just did) and/or seize big airfields (Coal Harbor, etc.) closer to the USA. The former means the KB is tethered to the West Coast, which means the Allies are petty safe in Oz, the Indian Ocean and India, leaving them to act more aggressively. The latter will require alot of resources, some risk (invasions close to mased Allied LBA) plus alot of time to build up the airfields. Time is not Steve's friend and he's already running pretty late. The Allied airforce grows considerably stronger by summer and autumn of 1942.
c) Invasion: Very unlikely, but it is remotely possible that Steve might try to invade a couple of USA bases to destroy industry. San Diego and Los Angelse are probably the most vulnerable. This would be nearly impossible, but I can't complety discount it.
Evaluation of Play: Thus far I don't think either side has scored anything like knockout punches in the game. This has mainly been a game of maneuver. Neither side has taken big risks. Both sides have scored only a few telling blows. The Allies have lost two major ships post Pearl Harbor - CA Exeter at Oosthaven (my bad in not recalling her) and BB New Mexico off Vancouver Island (I fed her to the lions in a move I'm not particularly proud of). Japan has lost only CA Chokai (in the South China Sea at the start of the war) and a few CLs (New Mexico did claim Oi, which had been giving me fits). The Allies have made a few stands here and there - Cocos Island, Sabang, Port Blair, Koepang and Burma. Most of these haven't been contested yet. Steve has big things in mind for China, but he may be taking too long and trying to be too Shermanesque instead of massing and blowing through early. The Allies meekly surrendered Alaska and coastal Canada, thoguh some of the garrisons performed heroically. I'm still thinking Steve has his eyes on Oz and China, but it's still just a bit too early to know for certain or to declare myself certain.
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Printable Version
RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A) - 
Hope these gals are OK. Elevator operators at the Eaton, 1942. Hope the fires weren't cows being barbecued on the hoof. 
This also crosses international lines. A Canadian air HQ could do the same. 
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